S.9
Coimisiún na Scrúduithe Stáit
State Examinations Commission
__________________
JUNIOR CERTIFICATE EXAMINATION, 2004
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ENGLISH – FOUNDATION LEVEL
360 marks
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WEDNESDAY, 9 JUNE – MORNING, 9.30 to 12.00
YOU MUST ANSWER SECTIONS 1, 2, AND 3
YOU MUST ALSO ANSWER ANY THREE OF
SECTIONS 4, 5, 6, AND 7
SPEND A LITTLE OVER 20 MINUTES
ON EACH SECTION
Page 1 of 12
[Turn over
SECTION 1:
READING
[60]
Read this piece and then answer the questions.
PIRATES
1. Throughout history pirates have terrorized the
world’s seas. The 1600s and early 1700s were
known as the Golden Age of Piracy. Ships
loaded with goods such as gold, tobacco, rum,
silks and spices, would be sailing back to
Europe from around the world. Pirates could
not resist the temptation to rob these ships.
2. There were three types of pirate: the true pirate, the buccaneer, and the privateer. True pirates stole
from anyone. They were criminals and, if caught, faced certain death. The buccaneers were a group
of slaves and criminals who were living in the Caribbean. Mainly Dutch, English and French, they
hated the Spanish, who ruled much of the Caribbean at that time. They enjoyed attacking Spanish
ships and did so whenever they could. Privateers often had letters from their governments giving
them permission to rob. These letters could save them from punishment.
3.
One of the most dreaded pirates of all was Edward Teach, or Blackbeard. To make himself look
terrifying during a raid, he tied lighting hemp fuses into his hair and beard. The same kind of fuse
was used to light cannons. These fuses burned slowly and smoked. He looked like he was on fire.
The sight of Blackbeard was enough to make his victims surrender peacefully; he would usually
take their gold, navigational instruments and rum before allowing them to sail away.
4.
Pirates created their own flag, or Jolly Roger as it was called. Pirates in the West Indies were the
first to fly red flags to let everyone know who they were. The skull and crossbones was popular
with pirates; it was the symbol for death. Blackbeard added an hourglass to show that time was
running out and death was coming soon.
Adapted from http://www.ecani.com/vi/pirates.htm
Page 2 of 12
A
Find the answers to the following questions -1
2
3
4
What happened if a true pirate was caught?
What was Blackbeard’s real name?
What did pirates call their flag?
What symbol of death did pirates put on their flag?
(5)
(5)
(5)
(5)
B
What did the ships carry back to Europe? (Part 1)
(10)
C
How did Blackbeard make himself look terrifying? (Part 3)
(10)
D
Why did Blackbeard add the hourglass to his flag? (Part 4)
(10)
E
In your opinion, should letters from their governments save privateers
from punishment?
(10)
Page 3 of 12
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SECTION 2:
PERSONAL WRITING
Write about one page on ONE of the following topics.
PICK ONLY ONE TOPIC
A
What I like about -TV
OR
My Friends
B
A day at the races
C
A family event
D
Teacher:
Student:
OR
Christmas Morning
Did you do your homework last night?
No, but I can explain.
Write the rest of this conversation
E
Shopping in town
F
On the school bus
G
As I arrived home, I saw smoke coming out of my bedroom window.
Continue this story.
H
A film I will always remember
Page 4 of 12
[60]
SECTION 3:
FUNCTIONAL WRITING
[60]
Answer EITHER A or B
A
Your teacher has given everyone in your class the name of a
student pen-pal in China to write to.
Write a letter to your pen-pal telling him / her about yourself,
your hobbies and your family.
OR
B
You are asked to explain the rules of a game to a group of younger students.
Write a list of the rules, as you would explain them.
Page 5 of 12
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Answer ANY THREE of the Sections 4, 5, 6, and 7 which follow.
SECTION 4:
DRAMA
[60]
Read this SCENE from Charlotte’s Web by E.B. White.
Then answer the questions.
Eight year old Fern lives on a farm with her mother, father and brother. While helping
her mother set the table for breakfast she sees her father go out with an axe.
FERN (curiously)
MOTHER
FERN
MOTHER
FERN (loudly)
MOTHER
Where’s father going with the axe?
Out to the hog-house, some pigs were born last night.
I don’t see why he needs an axe.
Well, one of the pigs is very small and weak and it will be trouble.
So your father has decided to do away with it.
Do away with it. You mean kill it? Just because it’s smaller than the
others?
Don’t shout Fern. Your father is right. The pig would probably die
anyway.
Fern pushes a chair out of the way and runs outside to her father.
FERN (crying)
Please don’t kill it! It’s unfair. (Fern tries to grab the axe out of her
father’s hand.)
FATHER
I know more about raising a litter of pigs than you do. A weakling
makes trouble. Now run along.
FERN
But it’s unfair. The pig couldn’t help being born small, could it?
If I had been very small at birth would you have killed me?
FATHER
Of course not! But this is different. A little girl is different from a
pig.
FERN
(still hanging on to the axe) I see no difference. This is the most
terrible case of injustice I have ever heard of. It’s so unfair.
FATHER
All right, you go back into the house and I will bring you in the pig.
You can raise it on a bottle, like a baby. Then you’ll see what trouble
a pig can be.
A
In stanza 3 of the poem, what does the dog do for people?
(10)
Fern’s father brings in the pig in a box. He leaves it at Fern’s chair.
FERN
(looking at the pig) Oh my, he’s absolutely perfect. (Fern closes the
carefully
kisses her father.)
B
Why have dogs abox
better
life in and
the country?
(10)
C
-adapted from Charlotte’s Web
By E.B. White
What impression do you get of dogs from this poem?
(10)
Page 6 of 12
A
Why is Fern upset?
(10)
B
Fern’s father is going to kill the pig. Explain why.
(10)
C
How did Fern persuade her father to let her keep the pig?
(10)
D
Would you like to play the character of the father in this scene?
Explain why.
(10)
E
Think of a PLAY or FILM you have studied.
1.
2.
3.
Name the play or film.
Tell the story of the play or film.
Choose a scene you liked or disliked. Explain
why you liked or disliked it.
Page 7 of 12
(20)
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SECTION 5:
POETRY
Read this POEM and then answer the questions.
NEW BOY
1.
He stood alone in the playground
Kicked his shoes and stared at the ground
He came late in the school year
From the other side of town.
2.
He’d a brand new blazer and cap on
Polished shoes and neatly cut hair
Looked up and half smiled
Pretending he didn’t care.
3.
And I remembered when I’d been new
And no one had spoken to me
I’d almost cried as I stood alone
Hiding my misery.
4.
My heart said I should go over
Share a joke or play the fool
But I was scared of looking stupid
In front of the rest of the school.
- abridged from Gareth Owen
Page 8 of 12
[60]
A
In stanza 2 of the poem, how does the poet describe the new boy?
(10)
B
What stops the poet from speaking to the new boy?
(10)
C
Do you think the new boy was happy in school?
Give a reason for your answer.
(10)
D
In what way are the poet and the new boy alike?
(10)
E
Think of a poem you have studied which made you feel
frightened or sad or lonely or happy.
(i)
(ii)
Name the poem, and tell the story of the poem in your own words.
Explain why the poem made you feel
frightened or sad or lonely or happy.
Page 9 of 12
(20)
[Turn over
SECTION 6:
FICTION
[60]
Read this piece adapted from Runaway Summer by Nina Bawden.
Then answer the questions.
Mary was angry and couldn’t remember being otherwise. Sometimes she was angry for a
good reason – when someone tried to make her do something she didn’t want to do; but most
of the time she was angry for no reason at all. She just got up that morning feeling angry
and miserable . . . and as if she wanted to break things.
1.
Aunt Alice made her angry just by being there, with her rabbit-like face and her grey hair
and her teeth that made a clicking sound at mealtimes, and her stomach that sometimes
made a noise just like the bath water running out.
2.
This morning, Aunt Alice wanted Mary to wear her woollen vest. It was such a lovely
July day, with the wind blowing and the small clouds moving across the sky, that Mary
had been in a better mood than usual. She had eaten her porridge because she knew that
her grandfather believed it was good for her. He had smiled over his newspaper at her
when he saw her empty bowl. Mary was happy that she had pleased her grandfather - and
then Aunt Alice spoiled everything by asking Mary to put on her woollen vest!
3.
Mary argued with her aunt complaining that it wasn’t cold out and that she was hot. Aunt
Alice did not give up. She tried to explain to Mary that it was cold outside and that she
needed her vest, but Mary would not listen. She told her aunt that she hated the horrible
old vest with its sleeves and buttons. She got so annoyed that she stabbed her spoon into
her boiled egg and some of the yolk splattered out.
4.
Grandfather put down his newspaper, looked at Mary and smiled. He explained why she
must wear her vest. For a second, Mary almost smiled back at him. She found it hard not
to smile at her grandfather, with his round, rosy face, and round, blue eyes. Usually, just
to look at her grandfather made Mary feel nicer, a bit less cross. But this time he looked
worried and Mary knew he was upset because she had been rude to Aunt Alice.
Page 10 of 12
A
How did Mary feel in the morning?
(10)
B
How did Mary describe Aunt Alice? (Part 1)
(10)
C
How did Mary please her grandfather? (Part 2)
(10)
D
In your opinion, does Mary care for her grandfather?
Give a reason for your answer.
(10)
Think about a NOVEL or a SHORT STORY you have studied.
1.
Name the Novel or Short Story.
2.
Who was your favourite character?
Give two reasons why you liked this character.
(20)
E
Page 11 of 12
[Turn over
SECTION 7:
MEDIA STUDIES
[60]
View CAREFULLY -•
•
the ADVERTISEMENT on Page 1 of Paper X
the ADVERTISEMENT on Page 2 of Paper X
Then answer the questions.
A
Cereal bars are being advertised by two companies on
page 1 and page 2.
Name the TWO companies.
(10)
B
Who do the companies hope will buy these cereal bars?
(10)
C
THINK ABOUT BOTH ADVERTISEMENTS.
How do the two advertisements try to make you believe that cereal
bars are good for you?
(10)
Which of the two advertisements would make you feel more like
buying a cereal bar? Give a reason for your answer.
(10)
D
E
These logos appear on the advertisements.
In your opinion, which logo is better?
Give a reason for your answer.
Page 12 of 12
(20)